Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 15.9% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Afghanistan, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 15.9% for share of urban population who live in the largest city in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in Afghanistan peaked at 25.4% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 6.7%, in 1950.
That places Afghanistan 137th out of 179 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 7.0% | 6.7% | 7.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 8.1% | 7.9% | 8.3% | 2 |
| 1970s | 9.1% | 8.7% | 9.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 17.4% | 13.6% | 21.3% | 2 |
| 1990s | 22.1% | 18.9% | 25.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 18.3% | 17.8% | 18.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 16.2% | 15.5% | 17.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 15.9% | 15.9% | 15.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More population data for Afghanistan
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Population density 199.65 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 9.03 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.4% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 4.76 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 4.76 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 20,866 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 4.76 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 4.84 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 4.47 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population who live in the largest city in Afghanistan?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Afghanistan was 15.9% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 25.4% in 1990.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.7% in 1950.
- How does Afghanistan rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- Afghanistan ranks 137th out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.